Apparatus for carbonating liquids.



PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

W. A. HARRIS. APPARATUS FOR OARBONATING LIQUIDS.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.l3, 1904.

4 SHEETfi-SHEB1 1.

Wit muses 1H: NORRIS PETERS 5a., WASHINGTON, n. c.

No 882,908. PATENTED OUT. 9, 1906. W. A. HARRIS.' APPARATUS FOR CARBONATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED O0T.13,1904.

4SHEETSSHEET 2 No. 832,903. PATENT-ED OCT. 9, 1906.

w. A. HARRIS.

APPARATUS FOR GARBONATING LIQUIDS. APPLICATION FILED 0011s, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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j fills: 16 4 Z 29 J No. 832,903. PATENTED OCT. 9, 190

W. A. HARRIS. APPARATUS FOR GARBONATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.13, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

7. Aw LE A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. HARRIS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WALTER P. ANDREWS AND ON -SIXTH TO THOMAS L. BISHOP,

BOTH OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed October 13,1904. Serial No. 228,292-

.To all whom it may concern/.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Carbonating Liquids, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

The object of this invention is to automatically carbonate liquids and maintain the supply of the same without the use of pumps,

I stirrers, or other mechanical agents, which have been heretofore necessary for thorough carbonation. This object is attained in the manner and by means of the apparatus hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings; and the invention consists in certain novel features of the apparatus, as will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a diametrical vertical section of one of the tanks or holders, the float being raised. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the position of the valves and the cam-slide when the float is down; and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the valves, on a larger scale.

In the apparatus illustrated I employ two tanks or holders A B, on the rear side of each of which are supported a series of four valves 1 2 3 4. These valves may be designated, respectively, the water-supply, the

exhaust, the gas-supply, and the cut-off valves. The stems of all the valves pass through a rubber or other water and gas tight packing 5 and bear against a cam-slide 6. The valves are all pressed toward the tank by springs 7 within their respective casings, and the water-supply, gas-supply, and cutoff valves 1, 3, and 4 are held to their seats by the springs, while the exhaust-valve 2 is pressed away from its seat by its spring and held to the same by the camslide, as will presently more fully hereinafter appear.

This cam-slide is mounted vertically in bearings 8 on the wall of the holder and is connected by links 9 with a lever 10, which is suitably fulcrumed on the wall of the holder or tank and carries a float 1 1 at its inner end. On the outer edge of the slide I form a series of cam-surfaces 12, 13, 14, and 15, adapted to ride on the ends of the valve-stems, and thereby actuate the valves to open and close the same. The cam-surfaces 12 and 15 are inclines or oblique faces extending downward and inward from the line of the edge of the slide, while the earns 13 and 14 are similar faces extending outward from the edge of the slide, the face 13 being inclined downward and the face 14 upward. Between the several cams are straight faces 16, which permit the slide to move up and down across the ends of the valve-stems without affecting the positions of the valves.

The water-supply pipe 17 leads from the street water-main or other source of supply and is connected to branch water-pipes 18 19. Following the course of the pipe 18, it will be noticed that the water is carried to the valve 1 on the tank A, passes through said valve, and is then carried to the valve 4 on the tank or holder B. The water passes through the said valve 4 into a pipe 20, from which it is discharged into the tank. In the form of apparatus illustrated this pipe 20 passes upward to a point above the tank and is then carried down into the tank and terminates at a point near the bottom of the same, the end of the pipe being closed and its sides being provided with fine perforations 21, which permit the water to discharge into the holder in a number of fine streams or spray-like jets. A check-valve 22 of ordinary form is provided in this pipe 20, so as to prevent backflow of the water, and each branch of the water-supply pipe is provided with a cut-off or hand valve 28, by which the flow of water may be out ofi at will. The gas-supply pipe 24 is coupled to the ordinary gas drum or reservoir in which the carbonating agent is stored, and this pipe is connected with branches 25 26. Following the course of the branch 25, it will be noticed that the gas is led to and through the valve 3 on the tank or holder A and thence passes to a point near the bottom of the tank B and enters the said tank, a check-valve 27 being provided in Ice said pipe near said tank to automatically prevent back pressure and a cut-off or hand valve 28 being also provided between the tank and the said check-valve. The branch gas-pipe 25 enters a concentric pipe 31 of somewhat larger diameter, the end of the said gas-pipe being formed into a tapered nozzle 32 within the said pipe 31, which preferably leads from a chamber 29, having a perforated top 30 within the tank. The pipe 31 passes out through the tank and is carried up above the same and is then turned down, so as to reenter the tank through the top of the same at the center thereof, as clearly shown, a check-valve 33 being provided in the top portion of the pipe, if desired, to prevent backflow of the mixed gas and water passing therethrough. On the lower end of this pipe 31 within the tank is arose 34, through which a portion of the mixed water and gas is discharged in the form of spray, and just above this rose is an elbow from which a branch pipe 35 passes to the side of the tank and then down to the bottom of the same, where it is formed into a ring or coil 36, having a series of perforations in one side to permit the discharge of the combined water and gas into the tank.

Secured in the top of the tank and surrounding the downturned arm of the pipe 31 is an exhaust-pipe 37, which passes up to a coupling 38, fitted on the said pipe. Leading laterally from the coupling 38 is a pipe 39, which may be provided with a checkvalve 40, which pipe carries the exhaust-gas around to the valve 2 on the same tank B. From this valve 2 a pipe 41, provided with a check-valve 48, leads over to the tank A and after entering the same turns downward toward the bottom of the same and is then carried over toward the center of the tank, where it terminates in a perforated ring or coil 42 above the perforated chamber 29 as clearly shown. Each branch of the gas-supply pipe is provided with a cut-off or hand valve 43, by means of which the flow may be started or cut off at will, and thetwo branches of both the water and the gas supply pipes fol low similar courses, the two tanks and the pipe connections being duplicated in all respects, so that the foregoing description of one branch applies to the other branch as well. Each tank is provided with the usual pressure-gage 44 and may also be fitted with a safety-valve. The carbonated liquid is drawn off to supply customers or for other purposes through outlet-pipes 45, which run to a common dispensing-pipe 46, and each of which is provided with a check-valve 47, which will open outwardly under the pressure of the carbonated liquid to permit its use.

The method of carbonating and of maintaining the supply of the carbonated liquid will be readily understood. Both tanks being empty and a drum containing the carbonating agent being coupled to the gas-supply pipe, the water is turned on in one of the branches of the water-supply pipesay the branch 18. All the valves 1 2 3 4 are now open, and the floats in both tanks are in their lowest positions. The water passes directly to the valve 1 on the tank A and through the same and the valve 4 on the tank B, entering the pipe 20 and passing through the valve 22 to be discharged from the said pipe 20 and fill the tank B. As the tank fills with water the float therein rises and closes, first, the gas-supply valve 3, then the exhaust-valve 2, and finally and simultaneously the water-supply valve 1 and cut-off valve 4, the closing of the valve 4 preventing the entrance of any additional water into the tank. The valves 2 and 3 close after a very slight rise of the float, (practically at the start of its movement,) thereby preventing any passage of gas or air to the tank A. In actual practice the air initially in the tank has no noticeable effect on the operation and is taken up by the water in its circulation with the gas; but if the pressure should be noticeable on the pressuregage the safety-valve on the tank may be held open manually until the tank is filled with water, so as to permit the escape of the air before admitting the gas. The corresponding gas supply branch 25 is now opened and gas flows through said pipe to and through the valve 3 on the tank A and escapes through the nozzle 32. The water in the tankB of course has overflowed through the perforated chamber 29 and risen in the pipe 31 to the same level as in the tank. The gas, escaping from the nozzle with considerable velocity, rises through the pipe 31 and carries with it a portion of the water in the pipe, the said mingled gas and water flowing through said pipe back to the tank, a small part escaping through the rose 34 as a mist and the rest passing through the perforated branch pipe 35, thereby being thrown into the inert body of water in the tank. The result of this movement or circulation caused by the continued inflow of gas is a thorough commingling of the water and gas. When the pressure on the two sides of the valve 27 is equal, the flow of gas will be cut off automatically by the valve 27 dropping to its seat. The water-supply valve in the branch pipe 19 and the gas-supply valve in the branch pipe 26 are opened manually after the valve 27 is closed, which fact will be known by the pressure indicated on the pressure-gage 44.

It will be understood, of course, that a regulating or reducing valve is arranged on the gas-drum or the pipe leading therefrom, which may be adjusted to admit the gas uniformly under any desired pressure. When the same pressure is indicated on the pressure-gage attached to the tank, the valve 27 will be closed' This regulating-valve is common to all carbonating apparatus and may be of any well-known form. It forms no part of my invention, and I deem illustration of the same unnecessary. The apparatus will now be ready to supply carbonated liquid and to automatically maintain the supply. Before any of the liquid has been drawn from the filled tank B the several parts will remain inactive, the valve 1 of said tank preventing the flow of water to the tank A, the valve 4 preventing the flow of additional water nto' the tank B, and the valve 3 preventing the flow of gas into the tank A, while the excess gas will be held in the tank B by the valve 2. The carbonated liquid from the tank B flows through the dispensing-pipe to the fountain and to the valve 47 in the pipe leading from the tank A and forces said valve to its seat, so as to automatically prevent the flow of the carbonated liquid into the tank A. The pressure of the carbonated liquid in the tank B closes the valve 22 and the check-valve 48 in that pipe 41 which has its end within the said tank. As the carbonated liquid is drawn from the tank or holder B, however, the float therein will fall and the cam-slide be thereby carried downward so as to open the valves on said tank, the cam-surfaces being so relatively situated that the valves 1 and 4 will be opened simultaneously, and thereby the flow of water through said valves will be permitted, so that the tank A will be filled, but no additional water will pass into the tank B until the pressure therein has been materially reduced, as the said pressure will keep the check-valves in the pipes 20, 41, and 45 communicating with said tank closed. The rising of the water in the tank A will close the valve 3 thereon, so 'as to cut off the flow of gas to the tank B. As the float in the tank continues to fall the exhaust-valve 2 will be next opened to allow the excess or exhaust gas to pass out and to the other tank, it being understood, however, that the valve 2 is not opened until the float is very near the lower limit of its movement and that the valve 3 is opened about five seconds after the valve 2.

About five seconds are required ordinarily to permit the exhaust or surplus gas to flow from one tank to the other, and it is necessary to accomplish this before turning on the flow of gas, as the water cannot flow into the tank B until this gas has been removed and the exhaust-gas cannot enter the tank A if that tank should be already supplied with gas. When the valve 3 is opened, the flow of gas into the tank A is set up, so as to carbonate the liquid therein in exactly the same manner as it was carbonated in the tank B. As soon as the pressure in the two tanks is equalized the valve 48 in the pipe 41 leading from the tank B will drop to its seat, and thereby prevent further flow of gas from said tank B, it being understood, of course, that when the tank B was filled the valve in the pipe 41 entering said tank was closed, as before stated. The carbonated liquid will pass into the outlet-pipes from the tanks and Will flow uninterruptedly to the check-valves 47 therein. At those valves, however, the dif ference in the pressure of the carbonated and non-carbonated liquid will cause that valve to be opened which leads from the tank containing the carbonated liquid, While the other valve will remain closed. I As the supply of carbonated beverage in one tank is diminished and the pressure therein reduced the pressure is increased in the other tank, and the valve leading from that other tank Will open so that a constant supply of fully-can bonated liquid at the dispensingfaucet is automatically maintained. After the carbon ation has been once accomplished in one tank and the water and the gas supply to the other tank opened the water and gas will flow to- Ward both tanks alternately, and the admission of the same to the tanks Will be controlled automatically by the several valves, so that the carbonating process is performed alternately in the two tanks without any attention by any one until the supply of gas in the gas-drum has been consumed. It is then necessary merely to couple a charged gasdrum to the gas-supply pipe, when the operation will continue.

. It will be readily seen that this process provides a constant supply of fully-carbonated liquid without any attention on the part of the dealer or his assistants and Without they use of pumps, stirrers, paddles, or other mechanical agents. The passing of gas through 1 the holder filled with water sets up acirculation of the water, in the course of which gas is absorbed by the water very quickly to the desired degree. It is to be noted that the gas passes through and takes up a portion of the water, and this mingled gas and water is returned to the main body of water at the top and bottom of the same, so that the gas will be scattered through the water and very rapidly absorbed by it. The process is materially hastened by utilizing the exhaust or excess gas from the twin tank as this gas is de livered within the water, so that when the apparatus is fully working the water is not only being caused to circulate with the incoming gas, but gas is also being delivered to the water within the body thereof and also at the top and bottom. The water may be supplied from an ordinary street-main or may be re ceivedfrom an elevated tank, as a pressure of the water is not required, there being but a very slight pressure in the tank to be overcome, owing to the fact that the surplus or excess gas is carried from the tank before water is admitted thereto.

The provision of the cut-off valve 28 adj acent to the tank in the gas-supply pipe en-' ables the gas to be cut off and held within the tank in the event of the check-valve in the said pipe needing any attention.

It is to be understood that after the complete apparatus has been once put in operation the valves 28, 43, and 23 are closed only in case of accident. When it is necessary to replenish the supply of gas, the valves 23 and 43 are closed, but remain closed only during the period required to couple a filled gasdrum to the apparatus.

The invention is to be used principally for soda-water apparatus; but it will be readily understood that it may be used in breweries and other places and that any carbonating agent may be used therein, the term gas used in this specification being intended to include compressed air or other agents, while by the term water is meant any liquid to be carbonated.

The apparatus illustrated is the preferred embodiment of the invention; but changes in the minor details may be made without departing from the invention, and I am not to be understood as confining myself to the specific construction illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of twin tanks or holders, a series of water and gas supply pipes admitting water and gas to both tanks, and means on each tank to automatically control the fiow of water and gas through said pipes to the other tank. 2. In a carbonating apparatus, the combination of a holder, pipes for supplying water and gas thereto, a valve controlling the circulation through the water-supply pipe and having its stem projecting into the holder, a slide mounted within the holder and having a cam-face bearing against saidvalve-stem, a lever fulcrumed within the tank, links connecting the said lever to the slide, and a float on the free end of said lever.

3. In a carbonating apparatus, the combination of a. holder, a perforated chamber therein near the bottom thereof, a circulating-pipe leading from the said chamber and discharging into the holder, a gas-supply pipe entering the said chamber and discharging into the circulatingpipe, an outlet-pipe for v the excess gas leading from the holder, a gaspipe entering the holder and discharging outside the said perforated chamber and circulating-pipe and means for supplying water to the holder.

4. A carbonating apparatus comprising twin tanks or holders, water-supply and cutoif valves on each holder, water-supply pipes each leading through the water-su ply valve on one holder and the cut-off va ve on the other holder and entering that other holder,

and means within each holder for operating said valves whereby the valves on each holder control the flow of water to the other holder.

5. A oarbonating apparatus comprising twin tanks or holders, gas supply and eX- haust valves on each holder, gas-pipes leading from each of said valves on each holder and entering the other holder, and means within each holder for operating said valves whereby the valves on each holder control the supply of gas to the other holder.

6. A carbonating apparatus comprising twin tanks or holders, exhaust-valves on each holder, pipes leading from the interior of each holder to the exhaust-valve thereon and then entering the other holder, and means on each holder for operating the valve thereon and automatically regulating the passage of the exhaust-gas from it to the other holder.

7. A carbonating apparatus comprising twin tanks or holders, a gas-supply valve on each holder, gas-supply pipes each leading to the gas-supply valve on one holder and then entering the other holder, and means on each holder for operating the valve thereon to control the supply of gas to the other holder. 4

8. In a carbonating apparatus, the combination of twin holders, means for supplying water and gas to the holders, and means for cutting off the supply to the holders alternately, a dispensing-pipe, branch pipes leading from the holders to the dispensing-pipe, and check-valves in said branch pipes whereby the flow is automatically permittedfrom the holder containing liquid under greater pressure and cut off from the other holder.

9. A carbonating apparatus comprising twin tanks or holders, means for supplying water to each holder, a circulating-pipe on each holder leading from near the bottom thereof and entering the top of the same, a

gas-supply pipe discharging into the circulating-pipe, excess-gas-escape pipes each leading from one holder and discharging into the other holder, and means for controlling the flow of the water and gas.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. HARRIS. Witnesses:

C. D. DAVIS, R. W. Brsnor. 

